by David Riel

Created on: November 05, 2009

Planning your moving budget is as important as choosing the moving and storage company for your move. Here is what you need to do to come up with a budget that will be realistic, and also save you money. Remember though, that the object of planning your move isn't just to save money. It's to ensure that your move goes smoothly, and that your possessions arrive at your destination, on time and in good condition. It's critical to your budget and piece of mind that you choose a good moving and storage company.

The most expensive part of your move will be hiring the moving company. You'll want to choose your mover as early as possible. It's far easier to arrange a move well in advance, than at the last minute. You should obtain at least three moving quotes before you select your mover. Be careful to avoid low-ball movers, though. If a quote is dramatically lower than the others beware. Low-ball movers can wind up costing you more money by increasing their rates once they've picked up your load, not delivering it on time, damaging it, or even in some cases, not delivering it at all. So avoid moving and storage companies whose quotes seem like too much of a bargain.

One way to ensure your moving quotes will be accurate is to show them every item which must be moved. That means items which may be in the attic, basement, or garage. Make it easy for them to determine exactly. Also, if there are any conditions where you live that may make it impossible for the mover to use his normal semi-trailer - such as sharp turns, overhead wires, steep hills, or other obstacles - be sure to tell the mover as this will involve increased costs for him. Accurate estimates are critical if your moving budget is going to be accurate.

You can ensure your moving budget is accurate is to choose a mover who offers a binding estimate. Many movers offer non-binding estimates, with the final costs to be determined after the move. Although the non-binding estimate may wind up being a bit cheaper at the end of the day than the binding estimate, there is no guarantee of this, and it could be more than originally quoted depending on the actual weight moved and services provided. Basically, you are paying a bit of a premium for the mover assuming the risk of increased costs when you obtain a binding estimate.

An option which may be available to you , which will provide you with the comfort of a binding estimate without incurring the premium for the mover assuming the risk, is the Not-to-Exceed estimate. These estimates go by a variety of names: Guaranteed Pricing, Price Protection, and so on. With these estimates you are guaranteed that you will not pay more than the maximum price quoted, but if the actual price of the move is less based upon the weight shipped and any additional charges, you will pay the lower price.

By helping the movers to accurately determine the cost of your move, and choosing the moving and storage company which offers you the best estimate, taking into account the differences between the different types of estimates as explained above, you can ensure that your moving budget is accurate, and that you're getting good value.

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